By Anthea Ong
The podcast currently has 13 episodes available.
In this episode based on the book chapter called ACCEPT, I am joined by Yip Pin Xiu, gold medalist Paralympian.
“When I think of who I would love to have a conversation with on this shade of love of self-acceptance, independence and triumph, I immediately thought of my fellow Nominated Member of Parliament and dear friend whom I hang out with at our favourite vegan restaurant called Loving Hut in Joo Chiat Road, Yip Pin Xiu. Pin Xiu is a three-time Paralympic gold medallist in swimming and holds two world records. Her early successes sparked public debate about the treatment and recognition of disabled athletes in Singapore which brought about changes in the funding support and award amounts for these athletes. As an NMP, Pin Xiu spoke up for the sports community at large, persons with disabilities and gender equality.”
Join us on a discovery of self-acceptance and self-improvement. We share our personal stories of self acceptance without exclusions and how we view self doubt in this day and age.
Also come find out why the Mangosteen Tree is paired with this shade of love in the book!
MY INVITATION TO YOU:
How comfortable are you with your own company?
What about you are you grateful for? What makes you trust you?
RESOURCES:
SG Enable https://www.sgenable.sg/Pages/Home.aspx
In this episode based on the book chapter called THRIVE, I am joined by Stephane de Montlivault, Asia Pacific President of OTIS.
“When I was thinking of who I would like to have a conversation with on this shade of love, more than a few leaders I know came to mind yet I don’t think we can talk about thriving without discussing the climate and mental health crisis that we are facing, and unpacking the responsibility and purpose of leadership. So my friend, Stephane de Montlivault, came to mind. Stephane is French but has not lived in France for 2/3 of his life, he now lives in Singapore with his Singaporean wife Ivy, daughter Aimee and son Alban. He shared with me how he constantly craves to expand his purpose in life, through and beyond family and career. And we both share a deep conviction in championing workplace mental wellbeing as a leadership priority at the WorkWell Leaders community of CEOs and leaders that I started 3 years ago. Stephane is also the Asia Pacific President of Otis, yes the 167 year old elevator company founded and listed in New York.”
Join us on a discovery of thriving in balance, complete leadership and corporate stewardship. We dive deep into our childhood and how it has shaped our views of the world, followed by a discussion on authentic leadership, business as a force for good and sustainability, and sustainability initiatives in businesses.
Also come find out why the Olive Tree is paired with this shade of love in the book!
MY INVITATION TO YOU:
What do people thank you for?
What can you give yourself more credit for?
RESOURCES:
WorkWell Leaders http://www.workwellleaders.org/
A Good Space http://www.agoodspace.org/
Company of Good https://www.companyofgood.sg/
Community Foundation https://www.cf.org.sg/
Community Chest https://www.comchest.gov.sg/
In this episode based on the book chapter called SEEK, I am joined by Imran Taib, a philosopher and an interfaith and multiculturalism expert to explore the realm of religion and spirituality with empathy and curiosity.
“When I was thinking of who I would like to have a conversation with on this shade of love on religion, spirituality and humanity, I immediately thought of my learned friend whom I enjoy these conversations of spirituality and religion with - he’s none other than Mohamed Imran Mohamed Taib.
Imran already had a sterling reputation as one of Singapore’s foremost interfaith and multiculturalism experts when I first reached out to him to meet after stepping down from Parliament. I was then increasingly concerned with some of the right wing and conservative ideas that I was hearing from certain religious groups and wanted to understand more from him. You know how you conjure up these images of religious scholars with long beards and robes? Imran completely disappoints when he showed up looking no different to my kawans from the neighbourhood. In fact, when I later moderated the Civil Society conversation after the general elections in 2020, I asked all the 9 panelists of which Imran was one of them to describe themselves in a 7-word biography - his first attempt was “Enjoys robust conversations over teh tarik” - how interesting is that?
Imran is also the co-founder of Centre for Interfaith Understanding or CIFU which strives to strengthen the multi-religious fabric that weaves all of Singapore together by advocating for deeper discourse among various faiths through dialogue, training and curriculum development.”
Join us as we explore the difference between spirituality, religion and culture, topped with our personal stories of our path to discover our versions of religion.
Also, come find out why the Epiphyte is paired with this shade of love in the book!
MY INVITATION TO YOU:
What does religion and spirituality mean to you? Is there a difference?
What beliefs help you move forward and what holds you back?
RESOURCES:
IRO or the Interreligious Organisation https://iro.sg/about-iro/
Youth-oriented groups such as
Being Bridges, https://beingbridges.com/
Roses of Peace https://rosesofpeace.com/
Interfaith Youth Circle https://www.interfaithyouthcircle.com/
More than Just https://www.buro247.sg/culture/buro-loves/more-than-just-race-racism-dinner-singapore.html
Minority Voices https://www.minorityvoices.net/team
Beyond the Hijab https://beyondhijab.sg/
In this episode based on the book chapter called TURN, I am joined by Zakir Hossain Khokan, a poet and author, also a fellow migrant worker to explore the conversation of gratitude and renewal.
"When I was thinking of who I would like to have a conversation with on this shade of love on loss and turnarounds, I immediately thought of my friend - Zakir Hussain Khokan. I first met Zakir a good number of years back when he attended one of the Hush Teabar community sessions. Zakir was a journalist in Dhaka Bangladesh before he left for Singapore to join the construction industry here in 2003, that’s 18 years ago! He won the first Migrant Workers’ Poetry Competition, and became a strong voice for the migrant community. He was featured in the media, at the Singapore Writers’ Festival, at TEDx Singapore, and on other platforms but he wanted to do more for the scene. Monir Ahmod and you edited Migrant Tales (2017), an anthology of poems by migrant Bengali poets in Singapore. He also started to establish a migrant writers community called ‘Migrant Writers of Singapore’ and started ‘Carnival of Poetry’, a monthly reading session with the support of Sing Lit Station which brings local and migrant poets together. He said poetry is like oxygen for him!"
Join us as we discuss gratitude, resilience, loss and turnarounds, and how both of us experienced losing everything, to finding ourselves in the end.
Also, come find out why the splendid Tapia shrub is paired with this shade of love in the book!
MY INVITATION TO YOU:
How different would your life be if you focus on what you have instead of what you don't have? What is your "have" list?
RESOURCES
Migrant Writers of Singapore, One Bag, One Book, Migrant Workers Photography Festival - 2nd edition in Sep https://www.giving.sg/singlit-station/onebagonebook
Migrant Library Singapore https://www.facebook.com/pages/category/Library/Migrant-Library-Singapore-151309755494905/
Dibashram https://dibashrammock.wordpress.com/
Welcome in My Backyard https://www.wimby.sg/
TWC2 https://twc2.org.sg/
HealthServe https://www.healthserve.org.sg/our-centres/
In this episode based on the book chapters called EXTRICATE and DESTRUCT, I am joined by Carrie Gill, a friend and lawyer who helped me through my divorce during one of the toughest phases of my life.
“When I met Carrie 14/15 years ago, she was the youngest lawyer to be made partner at her firm at that time before the age of 30. She didn’t just act for me as my divorce lawyer but also took on all the litigation matters when the ex-husband sued my company, Knowledge Director. She also went through her own divorce as a mother of two young children about a year later. We used to hang out at bars and clubs after ploughing through volumes of affidavits! Carrie is currently a Partner, Family & Divorce Practice Group at Harry Elias Partnership. “
Join us for a discussion exploring topics of shame, domestic violence and the emotional pain that comes with divorce. We share our perspectives on marriage preparation and role modelling for children in this episode as well.
Also, come find out why Cycads and the Giant Kapok Tree are paired with this shade of love in the book!
MY INVITATION TO YOU:
RESOURCES:
Legal Aid Bureau https://lab.mlaw.gov.sg/
Law society Pro Bono Services https://www.lawsocprobono.org/pages/contact-us.aspx
SCWO Legal Clinic https://www.scwo.org.sg/what-we-do/services/legal-clinics/
Star Shelter https://www.scwo.org.sg/what-we-do/services/star-shelter/
In this episode based on the book chapter called RELEASE, I invite Susan de Silva to join me for a conversation on transitions.
“I was initially scratching my head about who to have a conversation with on this shade of love about holding on tightly and letting go lightly, of groundbreaking transitions. And then viola, Susan was sent to me that week with a group of lawyers who wanted to discuss mental wellbeing for the legal industry! Unlike me who has always been seduced by possibilities especially in my work and vocation, Susan spent 30 years as a top corporate and employment lawyer before deciding to switch to what might seem to be the other end of the line 2 1/2 years ago to become a life coach.”
So how do we allow ourselves to be released from the old so we can grow into and with the new? Join us as we explore our respective experiences with fear and possibilities, and how courage is the fuel, the muscle, to move from the old to the new.
Also, come find out why the Oak tree is paired with this shade of love in the book!
MY INVITATION TO YOU: What and who in your life do you need to let go of in order to be who you can be, and to live the life you are here to live?
RESOURCES:
International Coach Federation Singapore Chapter https://www.icfsingapore.org/about-us.html
CW: Suicide, Youth Mental Health and Abortion
In this episode based on the book chapter called PARDON, I invite Linda Collins to join me to explore the difficult topics of abortion, suicide and youth mental health. "When I was thinking of who I would trust to have an intimate conversation with on this shade of love of loss and forgiveness that still shakes me, Linda Collins came to mind. I met Linda for the first time with a few mothers a couple of years back. United by the loss of their children to suicide, they founded the Please Stay Movement in Oct 2019. A survivor herself, Linda lost her beloved daughter - Victoria McLeod in 2014 when Victoria was 17. Linda generously shared her loss and grief through her book, Loss Adjustment which she gifted me with a copy at that first meeting. The pain of her loss permeates every page of the book yet the clarity and honesty of her words made it impossible to stop reading. I finished the book in one reading that weekend. Linda is also a copy editor with The Straits Times and has just published a poetic response to Loss Adjustment called Sign Language for the Death of Reason."
Join us for an exploration on guilt and forgiveness through a most heartfelt conversation that breaks through the silence and stigma on abortion and suicide.
Also, come find out why the English Yew is paired with this shade of love in the book!
MY INVITATION TO YOU:
What guilt do you need to release yourself from in order to move forward? What can you do to forgive yourself?
RESOURCES:
Find out more about the book, Loss Adjustment, at https://www.ethosbooks.com.sg/products/loss-adjustment Caregivers' Alliance https://www.cal.org.sg/
Samaritans of Singapore https://www.sos.org.sg/
Please Stay Movement https://www.pleasestaymovement.com/
Child Bereavement Support Group https://www.cbss.sg/
CHAT https://www.chat.mentalhealth.sg/
Shan You Counselling https://www.shanyou.org.sg/
In this episode based on the book chapter called RISE, I invite Alfian Sa'at to join me in a conversation about the arts and measures of success. "When I was thinking of who I would like to have a conversation with on this shade of love on success and social acceptance, a friend whom I’m a big fan of was my first thought because the choices he made as a young adult could not have been more different from mine. Prior to that, we would have been seen as following a trajectory that would make all Singaporean parents proud - we both went to neighbourhood primary schools, moved on to top schools and then landed at the National University of Singapore. I finished business school and started my career as a young banker but this friend, Alfian Sa’at who’s more than a few years younger than me, attended medical school but chose to take a road less travelled that led him to become one of Singapore’s most acclaimed and prolific artists - Alfian is a writer, poet and playwright and currently the resident playwright for theatre group, WildRice."
This is a plain-spoken and enlightening conversation between two people who have had such contrasting life trajectories yet are charmingly similar in the way they have let themselves be led by life to find meaning in arts and community.
Also, come find out why the Tualang tree is paired with this shade of love in the book!
MY INVITATION TO YOU: How do you define success? What is the story you are writing for yourself?
RESOURCES:
WildRice https://www.wildrice.com.sg/
TheatreWorks http://theatreworks.org.sg/cover/home.htm
The Necessary Stage https://www.necessary.org/
DramaBox http://www.dramabox.org/
Ethos Books https://www.ethosbooks.com.sg/
Epigram Books https://epigrambookshop.sg/
In this episode based on the book chapter called ADAPT, I invite Zulhaqem Zulkifli to join me in a conversation about poverty, dignity and meritocracy.
"When I was thinking of who I would like to have a conversation with on this shade of love regarding dignity, agency and poverty, I immediately thought of my new young friend - Zulhaqem Zulkifli who has an incredible tale of twists and turns and whose father is also central to much of how he has been shaped. Not even 30 yet, Zul has a bagful of experience from sleeping in void decks to collecting cardboards to now studying his Masters in Oxford where he’s zooming in for today’s conversation. I remember reading about him in the papers because he is clearly newsworthy as a quintessential Singapore boy made-good story and also remembering how proud yet curious I was about his choice to pursue Buddhist studies."
Join us for an exploration on meritocracy and intergenerational social mobility in this honest conversation on the growing class divide in Singapore.
Also, come find out why the Walking Palms is paired with this shade of love in the book!
MY INVITATION TO YOU: How have you adapted yourself in tough situations? What does that say about your values?
RESOURCES:
Project Hills https://www.facebook.com/projecthills/
A Good Space http://www.agoodspace.org/
Social collaborative or socialcollab.sg http://wiki.socialcollab.sg/index.php/Main_Page
CAPE Community for Advocacy & Political Education – a student-run organisation based at Yale-NUS College https://cape.commons.yale-nus.edu.sg/
In this episode based on the book chapter called APPROVE, I invite Raeesah Khan to join me in a conversation about approvals, parenting and youth mental wellbeing.
"When I was thinking of who I would love to have a conversation with on this shade of love on approvals and sense of self, especially as a young person and the role of parents, Raeesah Khan was the first person to pop up in my head. At 27, she’s unequivocally young and as a new mother, she also has the precious perspective of discussing parenting capacity. Raeesah is also a member of parliament with the Workers’ Party and a fellow social entrepreneur."
Raeesah has been a social activist since she was 17, mainly focusing on underprivileged families, survivors of sexual abuse, youth activists, migrant workers and refugee issues In 2016, Raeesah Khan founded the Reyna Movement, an organisation that aims to empower marginalised women and children through up-skilling programs and community engagement. The Reyna Movement has worked with women's shelters, the homeless, at-risk children and low-income families in Singapore
Join us for an exploration nature vs nurture; conscious parenting and the challenges of identity faced by our young; and how what we value as a society translates to the pressures we put on our children as parents.
Also, come find out why the Coast Redwoods of California and Oregon is paired with this shade of love in the book!
MY INVITATION TO YOU: How much of what you do now is a result of that unconscious need to make your parents proud? How much of your self criticism stems from having let your parents down in one way or another?
RESOURCES:
(For parents)
Centre for Fathering https://fathers.com.sg/
New Mothers Support Group https://www.nmsg-singapore.com/
Mums@Work https://www.mumsatwork.net/
Aware http://asinglelove.sg/single-parent-about/
(For youths)
Halogen Foundation https://halogen.sg/
Mentoring Alliance Singapore (MASg) - youth mentoring ground up movement https://www.mentoringalliancesg.com/
CHAT https://www.chat.mentalhealth.sg/mobile/about-chat/
The podcast currently has 13 episodes available.